The Saudi government has announced that it will impose a fine of 50,000 riyals (approximately Rs1.623 million) and six-month imprisonment on Umrah pilgrims staying beyond their designated schedule.
According to officials of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Saudi General Directorate of Passport has warned pilgrims to adhere to their travel schedules.Any pilgrim failing to pay the designated fine will face an additional imprisonment.
The Saudi passports division further said those visiting the country on Umrah visas are not allowed to travel outside Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah.It also warned the citizens and residents against transporting, employing, sheltering or hiding those with expired Umrah visas.
Meanwhile, the ministry has sent a warning to private tour operators and directed them to remain vigilant while sending people to perform Umrah.It said that tour operators will be held responsible for any person going missing while on pilgrimage. License of the operators will be cancelled beside other strict penal actions if the pilgrims don’t return within the scheduled period.
Published in Daily Times, June 29th 2018.
